GRE word list

agnomen \ag-NOH-muhn\, noun

1. A nickname.

2. An additional, fourth name given to a person by the ancient Romans in allusion to some achievement or other circumstance, as “Africanus” in “Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.”

He was thin in person and low in stature, with light sandy-colored hair, and small pale features, from which he derived his agnomen of Bean or white.

-- Sir Walter Scott, Waverley

Successful Roman generals were frequently given an agnomen celebrating the source of their victories.

-- Waldo E. Sweet, Lectiones Primae

Agnomen comes from the Latin tradition of adding a fourth nickname to someone's given name. Ag- is a variation of the prefix ad- meaning "to" or "near." Nomen means "name."

agnate \ag-neyt\, noun

1. A relative whose connection is traceable exclusively through males.

2. Any male relation on the father's side.

adjective:

1. Related or akin through males or on the father's side.

2. Allied or akin.

It was considered abomination; no agnate gives up its infant kin in Igboland, no matter the crime.

-- M. O. Ené, Blighted Blues

His uncle in the third segment was the only other agnate who shared patriotic sentiments with Yat-Kuan.

-- Saikaku Ihara, Tales of Japanese Justice

Agnate is derived from the Latin word agnatus which referred to paternal kinsmen.

aliquant \AL-i-kwuhnt\, adjective

Contained in a number or quantity, but not dividing it evenly: An aliquant part of 16 is 5.

Cunning is the aliquant of talent; as hypocrisy is of religion; all the threes in the universe cannot make ten

-- Thomas Hall, The Fortunes and Adventures of Raby Rattler and His Man Floss

...even though that number was an odd number and by a quarter the number of his confiteors, even though four was an aliquant part of two thousand to hundred and nineteen, nothing being changed with regard to the masses...

-- Raymond Queneau, The Blue Flowers

Aliquant stems from the Latin roots ali- meaning "differently" and quantus meaning "great."